Wenslus Murape
Zvikomborero Parafini
A Norton quartet appeared in court on Monday charged with fraud involving cars worth US$37 000 combined.
The four Tafadzwa Makufa, Panashe Mawire, Trevor Kadzibonde and Sean Jaison, who are all aged 20 were remanded in custody to today for bail considerations after indications from prosecutor Polite Chikiwa that the State is opposed to bail.
The court heard that on July 10, the complainant Robert Makanjera advertised his Mercedes Benz C200 on registration number AGN0156, black in colour for sale through his Facebook account.
On July 23, Makufa contacted Makanjera inquiring about the vehicle and was told that it was still available.
He went on to request a copy of the vehicle’s registration book but Makanjera refused.
It is the State’s case that on August 1, Makufa and Kadzibonde went to Makanjera’s work place to view the car, which was being sold for US$25 000. On August 2, Makufa and Mawire allegedly connived and prepared summons in which Makufa was the alleged plaintiff and Mawire was the defendant over Makanjera’s vehicle.
The summons were filed with the Clerk of Court at Chitungwiza Magistrates Court.
A warrant of execution and delivery against property as well as a consent order was then granted by the Chitungwiza Magistrates Court under case number CH CG 253/24 on the same date, wherein it
was ordered that Makufa who purported to be the Plaintiff was declared the true and lawful owner of Makanjera’s car.
In the same order, Mawire, who purported to be the defendant was ordered to immediately surrender the car with its registration book.
On August 3, Makufa contacted Makanjera and negotiated the price of the car from US$25 000 to US$22 000 and he agreed.
The next day, Makufa asked Makanjera to send his bank details and on the next day, he asked him to bring the car at Harare Kopje Denmark building.
Upon arrival at the said place, Makufa who was in the company of Kadzibonde introduced Makanjera to other people, who were there.
They all got into the car and there was a request for a test drive.
They drove to Pennywise Shopping Centre and upon arrival requested to check the vehicle’s chassis number and other particulars against the registration book.
After the verification, they asked Makanjera to drive to Runhare House where they said they wanted to collect money for the payment of the car.
At Runhare house, Makanjera parked his car in the parking space next to the Civil Court entrance and another motor vehicle, which was driven by unknown people came and parked blocking him from the front.
Immediately, one of the occupants nicknamed Murehwa, who later gave Makanjera his mobile number, introduced himself as a Messenger of Court.
The other man he was with searched him and took the car keys before he was handed a copy of a warrant of execution and delivery against his car which was listed as Makufa’s.
The car was immediately driven off and upon realising that he had been duped, he lodged a complaint with the police.
The quartet was arrested on August 10 and the vehicle was recovered from Makufa, who had changed the registration platesMeanwhile, the quartet defrauded Kudakwashe Kadire of his Mercedes Benz C200 vehicle using the same modus operandi, which was recovered upon their arrest.
The car is valued at US$12 000.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter